Lee Last Years

This book shows a side of Robert E. Lee that seems to have been lost in the history books. After the end of the Civil War, we hear little or nothing about General Lee. In truth, he died five years after the war ended, but he made the most of that time in trying to repair the damage done by the war. This book is an excellent chronicle of those years.Lee lost most of his property during the war. He was a career soldier, and didn't have many prospects for employment. He hoped to move onto a farm and to live quietly in the country. However, other plans were being made for him. The trustees of Washington College in Lexington, Virginia, voted unanimously to offer him a job as president of the college. Lee was not a professional educator (although he had served as superintendent of West Point), but the trustees believed that his leadership and integrity were just what the college needed to survive the harsh economy left by the war. For his part, Lee saw this as an opportunity to help young Southern men to become productive citizens. The college's wager paid off. Enrollment grew each year that Lee spent at the helm. The college developed new programs, and Lee's stature and good reputation were such that Washington College received large donations from philanthropists, even in the Northern states. Lee took a personal interest in the students, learning to address them by name and taking responsibility for disciplinary measures.Yet Lee's last five years were not years of unabated bliss. His health declined steadily, his wife was an invalid, his brother died, and his reputation suffered from some unjust attacks in Northern newspapers. Throughout it all, Lee held his head high and maintained his dignity, his character, and his principles.Lee put much effort into healing the wounds left by the war. He appreciated the esteem in which he was held by his fellow Southerners, but he encouraged them to be loyal citizens of the United States of America. He never said a word against General U.S. Grant, and even rebuked an employee of Washington College who did. One of the most fascinating (and mysterious) episodes in the book is Lee's trip to Washington, D.C., to visit President Grant in the White House. No one else was present for the meeting, and so no one really knows what they discussed.The book ends abruptly with an account of Lee's death, without going reporting on his funeral and his family's life without him. Even so, this book makes great reading and has fascinating insights into the private life of an American icon.

A tremendous study of a dedicated and great American. Flood portrays for us a person who was devoted to his family, to those who served with him, and, most of all, to the youth of the country immediately following the War. As a major in American history, I commend Mr. Flood on a superb piece of writing.

Anyone who wants to learn more about a man of character should start here. His desires to re-unite his family, put to rest the hatreds of the war, and re-construct the pains & hurts of the South, made him accept the presidency of a struggling college in Lexington, Virginia. His fame & influence stretched to Congress, New York City, the Virginia legislature, and most importantly to Lee, the lives of many young men attending Washington College. By Lee's example, these young men would learn of forgiveness and discipline.

This was a passionate story of the last five years of the life of one of our greatest American heroes. Finally, we have a look at what Lee accomplished AFTER the war! From the first chapter to the end, I was enthralled with the story of Lee's dedication to God and country. The author used interesting stories to detail Lee's character which made the book easy to read and immensely enjoyable. I judge this to be one of the very best biographies I've ever read.

The author does an excellent job avoiding the mystique of Robert E. Lee and giving a clear picture of the man behind the uniform. A devout, patriotic man who saw the cause he fought for and the army he built defeated. You will be surprised at lengths Lee went to to heal the wounds of the Civil War. But without allowing his fellow Confederates to be mistreated. His reconstruction of Washington University and efforts to assist the reunification of the country are very interesting. This book reinforced the already high opinion I already had for Robert E. Lee and showed his more human side.